Shelf attachment for ladders



Aug. 12, 1941. c. oLsoN SHELF ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS Filed Jan. 30, 1940 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED ASTATES PATENT .oF-FICE SHELF ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS Chris Olson, Muskegon, Mich.

Application January 30, 1940, Serial No. 316,452

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a ladder attachment and more especially to a shelf for a ladder.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character wherein through the use of hangers a shelf can be adjustably supported upon a ladder and in a position to avoid interfering with an articer climbing the ladder or when at work thereon and at the same time affords la rest for materials, tools or the like as may be required by the user of the ladder,

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character wherein the hangers for the shelf are susceptible of being folded so that the attachment can be stored in the least possible space when detached from the ladder and the hangers when in position for supporting the shelf will be held against col-- lapsing or folding and sustains the shelf in a workable position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, light in Weight yet strong, durable, conveniently applied to and re moved from a ladder, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be herein-after more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure lis a fragmentary perspective view of a ladder in setup condition and showing the attachment constructed in accordance with the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the attachment with the hangers in a folded position.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the attachment showing one of the hangers in side elevation.

Similar reference characters indicate correspending parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a portion of a ladder which in the illustrations thereof is in a setup condition and the prop 5 of this ladder carries a cross piece 6 which is common to standard types of ladder construction. Adapted to be detachably suspended from this cross piece 6 on the prop 5 of the ladder A is the attachment constituting the present invention.

The attachment comprises a board-like section 'I having at opposite ends and next to one side edge thereof laterally extended abutment tongues 8 for contact with the side members of the prop 5 While at the other side edge of the said section l, which creates a shelf, is an upstanding rail 9. This rail 9 at the opposite ends thereof meets notches Ii] provided in the corners of the said sections 'I adjacent to said rail and for a purpose presently described.

The section 1 has swingably connected to an under side thereof the pivot stretches I I of substantially triangular-shaped hanger frames I2, each made from a rod of required length. The stretches II of the hangers I2 are stapled or otherwise swingingly connected as at I3 to the under side of the section I so that the said hangers I2 can be swung about the ends of this section 'I to be in an upstanding position relative thereto or folded against the under side of said section.

The hangers I2 when in upstanding relation to the section 'I abut the ends of the rail 9 and are accommodated in the notches I0 next therefto in said section l. These hangers I2 are formed with hook-like terminals or ends I4 which are adapted to engage over the cross piece 6 of the prop 5 and in this manner the section 'I, which constitutes the shelf, is suspended with the tongues 8 contacting the side members of the prop 5 for service.

The hangers I2 when in an upstanding position with relation to the shelf 'I saddle the latter and thus rmly holding such shelf to withstand loads imposed thereon.

The hook terminals or ends I4 permit easy attachment and detachment of the shelf to and from a ladder at the cross piece 6 of the prop 5 thereof.

When the hangers I2 are in folded relation to each other and against the shelf l, the attachment can be stored in the least possible space.

The hangers I2 when upstanding from the shelf I and in abutting engagement with the rail 9 at opposite ends thereof limits the inward swinging of such hangers and thus maintains the same in vertical parallel relation to each other. When the terminals or ends I4 are engaged with the cross piece 6, these hangers I2 will be prevented from swinging outward as the side members of the prop 5 limit the outward displacement thereof when so engaged.

What is claimed is:

1, A ladder attachment of the kind described comprising a board-like section forming a shelf, frame-like hangers swingably connected to the bottom of said section for movement about the ends thereof to upstanding or folded position and adapted to saddle the said section when in upstanding position above the shelf, hook terminals on said hangers, lateral extensions at opposite ends of the said section for abutment with a support When the hangers have the terminal hooks engaged therewith, and a rail carried by said section for the engagement of the hangers with opposite ends thereof When in upstanding position to limit the inward movement thereof.

2. A ladder attachment of the kind described, comprising a board-like section forming a shelf, frame-like hangers pivotally connected to the bottom of the section and normally lying flat against the same and adapted to swing around the ends thereof to saddle the said section When in upstanding position above the shelf, and a rail carried by the edge of said section for engaging the said hangers, hooks carried by the upper ends of the said hanger and adapted to hook over the rungs of the ladder on the inside of the uprights, whereby the hangers are held against movement in either direction.

CHRIS OLSON. 

